Alpine Eagle Secures €10.25 Million
Alpine Eagle Secures €10.25 Million in Seed Funding to Expand Counter-Drone Technology Amid Rising Security Threats
MUNICH, March 6, 2025 – Alpine Eagle, a German defense technology startup specializing in cost-effective counter-drone solutions, has raised €10.25 million in a seed funding round. The round was led by IQ Capital, a British deep-tech venture capital firm, with participation from returning investors General Catalyst and HCVC, as well as funds from Estonia, Germany, and Poland.
The funding will support the expansion of Sentinel, Alpine Eagle’s airborne counter-drone system, and help the company scale its team to 40 employees, bringing in specialists in machine learning, aeronautical engineering, business development, and sales.
Disrupting Legacy Counter-Drone Systems
Founded in 2023 by Jan-Hendrik Boelens, Alpine Eagle addresses the growing threat posed by low-cost first-person-view (FPV) drones, which have proven capable of destroying multi-million-dollar military assets. Traditional ground-based defense systems and cyber warfare solutions often come with significant cost barriers and operational limitations.
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To tackle this, Alpine Eagle has developed Sentinel, a modular airborne counter-drone platform designed for cost efficiency and adaptability. Unlike fixed-position systems, Sentinel’s mobility and airborne vantage point enable it to detect and neutralize threats with greater effectiveness. The system includes:
Autonomous detection and interception – Using AI-driven sensors, Sentinel can track drones and deploy countermeasures.
Swarm-based tactics – Multiple Sentinel units can be operated by a single operator, allowing for cost-effective drone defense at scale.
Integrated jamming and kinetic interception – The system features onboard jamming capabilities while deploying kamikaze interceptors that can capture threats with nets or neutralize them outright.
Strategic Growth and Market Expansion
Alpine Eagle has already secured the German army as its launch customer, alongside other government agencies. The company reported seven-figure revenue within its first year, validating demand for its scalable and efficient drone defense technology.
The startup’s expansion into the UK is a key priority, given the region’s growing focus on defense technology and critical infrastructure protection. With military bases and public assets increasingly vulnerable to drone threats, the need for flexible and rapidly deployable countermeasures continues to rise.
AI-Powered Warfare and Next-Generation Defense
Sentinel employs onboard AI processing for real-time threat assessment, navigation, and data collection. This enables the system to continuously improve its counter-drone strategies by analyzing real-world engagements.
Additionally, fiber-optic drones, which operate without traditional radio signals and are resistant to jamming, have become a new focus area for Alpine Eagle’s AI-driven detection capabilities. The company is currently testing its system in Ukraine, working closely with military brigades to refine its real-world applications.
A New Era of European Defense Tech
The investment highlights the growing role of European defense startups in modern warfare, particularly in countries seeking to strengthen their security infrastructure. The war in Ukraine has underscored the importance of advanced drone defense solutions, leading to increased interest from both governments and private investors.
With its innovative approach to counter-drone technology, Alpine Eagle is positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of autonomous defense systems.
